Khawaja Muhammad Asif

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MP
Khawaja Muhammad Asif
Defence Minister of Pakistan
Assumed office
27 November 2013
President Mamnoon Hussain
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Preceded by Naveed Qamar
Constituency NA-110
Minister of Water and power
Assumed office
7 June 2013
President Mamnoon Hussain
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Preceded by Ahmed Mukhtar
chairman of the Privatization Commission
In office
18 February 1997 – 12 October 1999
Preceded by Naveed Qamar
Succeeded by Shaukat Aziz
Personal details
Born Khawaja Muhammad Asif
(1949-08-09) 9 August 1949 (age 75)
Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
Citizenship Pakistan
Nationality  Pakistan
Political party Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Spouse(s) Musarrat Asif
Alma mater Government College University, Lahore (BA), Punjab University, Lahore (LLB)
Occupation Banker, Politican
Cabinet Sharif ministry
Religion Islam

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Khawaja Muhammad Asif (خواجہ محمد آصف; born 9 August 1949 in Sialkot), is a Pakistani politician, banker, cabinet member, and the current Minister for Water & Power, also holding the additional charge for Minister of Defence. A senior parliamentarian from the Pakistan Muslim League, his electoral career started in the Pakistan Senate in 1991.[1] He is noted for initiating the privatisation of the banking sector as well as his tough rhetoric against Pervez Musharraf.[2] He also had a short-tenure in the Petroleum ministry in the Gillani cabinet.[3]

Biography

Khawaja Muhammad Asif was born in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan, on 9 August 1949. He is of Kashmiri decent.[4]

Career in politics

Asif was appointed chairman of the Privatization Commission in 1997.[5] His tenure was eventually terminated by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 after staging a self-coup.[6] On 12 October 1999, Asif was arrested and was subjected to torture in a prison.[6] Despite the pressure by Pervez Musharraf to defect, Asif remained loyal to PML(N) and continued his criticism of Pervez Musharraf.[6] In 2002, he again defended the NA-110 constituency in general elections held in 2002.[6] From 2002–07, Asif worked on PML(N)'s public image and party's programme. During this time, he drew wide criticism from Musharraf and the growing influence of the military in national politics. In 2006, Asif criticised the role of the military.[6] Responding to charges leveled against him from the military, Asif stated he would, sacrifice his life for the institution of military.[6]

In 2008, Asif again stood for the NA-110 constituent during the general elections.[5] He was briefly appointed as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, with another leadership position in sports, before his party pulled out of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition government in 2008.[5]

From 2009–12, he filed Public Interest Litigation against the corruption of the then Federal Government, including Rental Power Plants case and LPG quota case.[6][7]

Minister of Water and Defence (2013–)

In 2013, Asif participated to defend the NA-110 constituency in the general elections, against Firdous Ashiq Awan of the PPP.[8] Asif secured ~92,848 votes with a percentile of 52.46%.[8] On 7 June 2013, he received an appointment in the Ministry of Water and Power as its minister.[9]

After the appointments of joint chief committee were completed, Asif was appointed Defence Minister, with an additional department on 27 November 2013.[10] Upon becoming Defence Minister, Asif tightened government investigations on Musharraf who is now facing trial for treason.[11]

Other issues

Dual nationality proceedings

On 4 June 2012, the FIA and the Supreme Court of Pakistan began an investigation pursuing inquiries of Asif's dual nationality charges.[12] A petition admitted by the Supreme Court's registrar stated that Asif holds dual nationality, and hence, according to Pakistan's constitution, he is not eligible to hold public office in Pakistan.[12] The petition also included names of 13 other current members of National and Provincial assemblies in Pakistan. However, the court did not find him guilty in this regard[12] and the petitioner who leveled charges apologised and withdrew the accusations.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Sajjad Malik, "24-member federal cabinet takes oath" Daily Times, 1 April 2008
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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